153 Page Notes

07 Surah Al-Araf (continued)

Page 153 - Related Hadith/Sunnah

7:23

7:24

7:25

7:26

7:27

7:28

7:29

7:30

Translation of the meaning by Sahih International.

Page 153 - Related Hadiths and Sunnah

Page 153 of the Quran covers Surah Al-A'raf (The Heights), verses 23 through 30.

This pivotal section begins with the profound repentance of Adam and Eve, transitions into Allah's decree regarding human life and death on Earth, and quickly shifts into a warning to the "Children of Adam." Allah reminds humanity of the spiritual purpose of clothing, warns against Satan's tricks that expose human nakedness, and establishes rules regarding justice, worship, and guidance.

The Sunnah and Hadith literature deeply illuminate these verses, providing specific contexts for repentance, modesty, dress, and spiritual misguidance.

1. The Ultimate Formula for Repentance

“They said, 'Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.'” — Surah Al-A'raf (7:23)

While Iblis (Satan) responded to his mistake with arrogance and blamed Allah, Adam and Eve responded with immediate accountability and humility. The Sunnah highlights this contrast as the definitive blueprint for human salvation.

A. The Master Supplication for Forgiveness

The Prophet Muhammad taught that acknowledging one's self-wrongdoing—the exact semantic structure used by Adam and Eve in Verse 23—is the highest form of seeking pardon. This is encapsulated in Sayyid al-Istighfar (The Master of Seeking Forgiveness).

• Hadith: Shaddad bin Aws narrated that the Prophet said:
  "The most superior way of asking for forgiveness from Allah is to say: 'O Allah, You are my Lord... I acknowledge Your favor upon me and I acknowledge my sin, so forgive me, for none forgives sins except You.' If somebody recites it during the day with firm faith in it, and dies before the evening, he will be from the people of Paradise..." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 6306)

B. The Virtue of Acknowledging Fault

• Hadith: Aisha reported that the Prophet said to her:
  "If you have committed a sin, then seek forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance. For when a servant admits their sin and repents, Allah accepts their repentance." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4141 / Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2770)

2. The Garment of Piety (Libas ut-Taqwa) and Modesty

“O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the garment of piety—that is best.” — Surah Al-A'raf (7:26)

Verse 26 outlines the dual purpose of clothing: a physical purpose (to cover nakedness and provide comfort/adornment) and a spiritual purpose (the metaphorical clothing of consciousness/piety).

A. Supplication When Putting on New Clothes

The Prophet established a Sunnah of thanking Allah for providing clothing to cover physical nakedness, directly echoing the favor mentioned in Verse 26.

• Hadith: Abu Sa'id al-Khudri narrated:
  When the Messenger of Allah put on a new garment, he would mention it by its name—whether a turban, a shirt, or a cloak—and then say: "O Allah, to You belongs all praise, just as You have clothed me with it. I ask You for its good and the good for which it was made, and I seek refuge in You from its evil and the evil for which it was made." (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 4020 / Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1767; graded Sahih)

B. Modesty is Inherent to Faith

Because Satan's primary objective is to strip humanity of physical and spiritual clothing (as seen in Verse 27), the Sunnah champions Haya (modesty/shame) as a protective barrier.

• Hadith: Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet said:
  "Faith has over seventy branches... and modesty (Haya) is a branch of faith." (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 9 / Sahih Muslim, Hadith 35)

3. Shaitan's Invisible Influence

“O children of Adam, let not Satan tempt you as he removed your parents from Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to show them their private parts. Indeed, he sees you, he and his soldiers, from where you do not see them.” — Surah Al-A'raf (7:27)

Because Shaitan operates from an invisible realm, the Sunnah provides humanity with a spiritual "cloak" to shield themselves from his sight, particularly when they are vulnerable (such as when undressing).

A. Spiritual Screening from the Jinn

• Hadith: Ali bin Abi Talib narrated that the Messenger of Allah said:
  "The screen between the eyes of the Jinn and the private parts of the children of Adam when one of them takes off his clothes is that he says: 'Bismillah' (In the Name of Allah)." (Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 606; graded Sahih)

4. The Command to Adorn Oneself at the Mosque

“Say, 'My Lord has commanded justice and to maintain your posture [in prayer] at every place of worship, and invoke Him, sincere to Him in religion...'” — Surah Al-A'raf (7:29)

While the verse explicitly commands structural sincerity and justice at every Masjid (place of worship), the Sunnah pairs this internal alignment with physical etiquette.

A. Outer Beauty Reflects Inner Sincerity

Scholars connect Verse 29's focus on sincere worship at the mosque with the Prophetic practice of presenting oneself cleanly and beautifully when standing before Allah.

• Hadith: Abdullah bin Mas'ud narrated that the Prophet said:
  "No one will enter Paradise who has an atom's weight of arrogance in his heart." A man said, "A man likes his clothes to look good and his shoes to look good." The Prophet replied, "Indeed, Allah is Beautiful and He loves beauty." (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 91)